Why Butch Harmon says Rickie Fowler’s win means more to him than Tiger, Phil majors

Within the wake of Rickie Fowler’s comeback win on the Rocket Mortgage Basic on Sunday, there was maybe nobody happier than Fowler’s coach, Butch Harmonwho appeared on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio’s “Gravy and the Sleeze,” hosted by Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz, on Monday.

“It was spectacular. I feel my anxiousness was in all probability the identical stage as his was when he was enjoying, simply because I needed it for him so dangerous,” Harmon mentioned. “To come back from 185th on the earth all the best way to twenty third in eight months is an unbelievable journey that he’s taken.

“And guys I’ll be sincere with ya,” Harmon continued. “I feel this one meant extra to me personally than quite a lot of the majors that I’ve received with completely different guys, simply ’trigger I understand how far down Rickie was, and to look at him come again, it was a pleasure to look at.”

Given the numerous wins and big-name stars with whom Harmon has been related over the course of his profession — Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, to call just a few — Harmon’s phrases about Fowler carry quite a lot of weight.

Harmon and Fowler labored collectively from 2013-2019, when Harmon determined to semi-retire from the grind of Tour instructing. Fowler then started working with John Tillery, earlier than reconnecting with Harmon final fall.

Harmon informed Knost and Stoltz that Fowler’s swing had modified fairly a bit, however he had a sport plan that he was assured would assist Fowler. The 2 stay on reverse sides of the nation, and initially communicated by way of video, texts and calls. Harmon’s brother, Craig, is a member at Fowler’s residence membership in Florida, Medalist Golf Membership, and the 2 would follow collectively so Craig may share intel with Butch.

Harmon defined that the first focus for his work with Fowler was to get his swing again on aircraft, since Harmon felt Fowler had gotten too flat, so the 2 began with altering Fowler’s takeaway.

Golf swing apart, Harmon mentioned he was additionally impressed by Fowler’s grit. Even when the event obtained away from him, Fowler continued to persevere.

“He stepped as much as the plate and obtained the job accomplished,” Harmon mentioned. “And that’s what you need to do to show to your self that you simply’re again on the high of your sport, and I feel that’s the factor that impressed me essentially the most.”

Unsurprisingly, Harmon says he’s additionally bullish about Fowler’s future, particularly given Fowler’s newfound confidence.

“He’s gonna win once more,” he mentioned.

Golf.com Editor

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of feminine varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everybody on the masthead. She will be able to out-hustle them within the workplace, too, the place she’s primarily answerable for producing each print and on-line options, and overseeing main particular initiatives, akin to GOLF’s inaugural Model Is­sue, which debuted in February 2018. Her origi­nal interview sequence, “A Spherical With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in each within the journal and in video kind on GOLF.com.